Still In Love With The White Christmas Tree

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Here it is! I'm still happy to have the little white Christmas tree in the living room!

Now that the little Christmas tree is out of its box once again and the felines are busy killing it, let's go back to the Holiday preparations! My newest acquisition are the two metal Christmas stars hanging on the gallery wall. Made in Germany :) I usually stay away from brown, but I love the way these brown stars echo the trim of the granny lamp.  

There's lots of pink going on here, topped with one of the Sleepy pumpkins I've made for Halloween. Many of you suggested it would be perfect for a Christmas decor, so here it is! I've added a vintage bell - a bronze buddy for the stars on the wall. Plus, I've split the white-washed wooden bird houses on both pink coffee tables (one of which serves as a side table, actually, it's more functional this way).

My cat Junior is not impressed with the way the sun rays play with the branches of the white tree. Oh well, what does he know about the trials and tribulations of a decorating addict!

Looking at these pics, I'm so far from a Christmas-y decor, but I really like it this way. Now I need to figure out what ornaments to put in the tree, so that the cats won't eat them :))

Random Happy Home

Now that the Christmas holidays are over.... and the New Year's Eve... and the St. John extended parties everywhere.... everybody is slowly adjusting to the normal pace of life. I am crawling every day to and from work. Outside, the snow continues to bless us with a proper winter atmosphere, just like when we were little and global warming was not even a serious concept, let alone a discomforting reality. Inside, the white theme continues in each room, for a soft cotton feeling. 

In the study, a stack of over-sized pillows is ready for the usual weekend guests. I am most pleased with the way that the DIY faux wallpaper completes the winter decor, even though I made it in spring, with a very summery vibe (i.e. the park and the bicycles). 

A peek through the bedroom mirror reveals the length of my closed, dressed-up in a subdued geometrical retro pattern. A bunch of assorted pillows on the bed try to sunbathe every morning in the dim light of snowy days. Oh well, it could have been even worst and not have any light at all and no snow at all... The key to happiness is to cherish what you've got and to make the most of it :)

We interrupt this snow white program for a special bulletin. My orange cat Junior has just applied for the pattern to his new invention: how to stay warm without getting burned and without having to support your own head!

All is well on the little balcony, too. The storage unit is full of the usual boxes dressed up in vivid colors by yours truly. Many of my plants have been especially selected to survive a blasting heat in the summer months, as well as almost freezing temperatures during winter. You can spot some pink cyclamen (which are my favorite blooms for January and February) and the resilient spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) which can't be killed by anything, in my experience.

Last but not least, a touch of green and yellow on my credenza, which used to be my improvised Christmas mantel. I put the books back in place, which makes me very happy. I think that books are a home's best friend :) You can also spot the witch lamp (hello to my special friend Ana from Carpe Diem!), the posterior of my cat and also a little glimpse of the happy entryway. And the pillows are sisters with the first ones, because I've got two of each :D

A Clockwork Orange

Orange cat (Junior), orange stool (Tam Tam), Ikea pillow, rag rug from grandma, DIY faux wallpaper. Just as I was ready to say goodbye to the wonderful Autumn colors and enter a more Christmas-y mood, I remembered to take a picture of another plant with beautiful purple leaves. The lovely "false shamrock" (Oxalis Triangularis) graces us with its colored leaves from February until late November or even December, then requires a little resting period. So I prepared a little shooting session, before it looses its purple leaves for two months. Just as I pressed the camera button, guess who sneaked into my picture?!

Cuddle In November

With this first photo I wanted to participate in the November Challenge from NIB. But I was too late :))) For me, cuddling means tons of big, soft pillows. In here, you can spot the second beanbag, identical to the one in the bedroom and a sheep skin pillow, keeping warm on chilly nights. I was just about to settle in and study a beautiful album on cinematic composition, when my orange cat Junior occupied the beanbag like it was his rightful place! Well, who can complain - a beating heart, a fluffy coat to pet and a roaring mustache is perfect for cuddling :)

I just can't resist this impromptu photo session and more pics are in order. The orange autumn are sitting pretty next to a soft pink rose. All these flowers were a gift, hand-picked from a real indoor garden and I arranged them in the chalk-paint vases that I made earlier this year. This combination of pinks and orange and lavender makes my heart sing with joy.

On the wall, there is a striped tapestry keeping warm for the cool months of the year. I am still debating weather I should apply it with starch and make some sort of wall-covering. I love the mix of natural textures, with the delicate petals, the wooden herringbone floors, the sheep skin and the wool. Speaking of which, here is a pic with a view of the floor :) As for me, I am going to put the kettle on and make some jasmine tea.

The Hunter In The Dark

Or should I say... the hunter in the light?! Junior, my white and orange cat, is on a mission. A pigeon family nests is my heater exhaust, right outside the kitchen window. Their young are learning to fly and the whole family is in constant agitation. Junior watches them without moving, for hours. I'm truly sorry  my pics don't come with a sound recording, because he croaks at the birds... for hours and hours. 

So my cat is a singer. He can do jazz, blues, Renaissance hymns, Italian opera, French chansons and a Bach fugue. Good for us, since a musical home is a happy home :)

Junior Justice

As much as I try to focus this blog on interior design and nothing else, I feel bound to make an update on my cats. After all, they are pretty and decorative as well, aren't they? As I was browsing through my pages in order to revise (and admire) my work so far, I noticed that Anais (the white and black cat with a natzi mustache) features many pics, whereas Junior (the red and white cat with the big nose) is almost absent.

In order to set the balance straight and fight injustice, please observe some of Junior's favorite poses.